Columbia, Mo. – The third ranked Columbia College volleyball team took the court today as they continued play in the 2018 Columbia College Fall Classic. The Cougars played their final two matches of the Classic as they swept the 23rd ranked Montana Tech Orediggers (25-17, 25-21, 25-19) and then won a 3-1 set over the John Brown University (Ark.) Golden Eagles (25-12, 25-10 , 24-26, 25-15). The Cougars now improve to 27-2 on the season.
On day two the Cougars began by facing Montana Tech in a Top 25 matchup. Columbia took the lead from the start. After a big block, the Cougars had a 10-5 lead in set one. As the Cougars began to separate themselves, 13-5, the Orediggers called a timeout. Columbia kept control of the game as they won set one 25-17.
In the second set it was kept tight as the teams went back and forth. The game was tied multiple times early on. As the set was knotted at 10, neither team had been able to find any breathing room. Columbia went on a 4-1 run, making Montana Tech call for a timeout as they did not want the Cougars to slip too far away. The timeout worked in the Orediggers favor as the set was tied back up at 14. To no surprise the teams were tied up at 18. As the Cougars took a one point lead, Montana Tech wanted another timeout. Columbia was able to break off in the end winning set two 25-21.
Set three proved to be exactly like the second, going point for point much of the way through. Midway into the third, the Cougars led 15-14. An Oredigger timeout was called as Columbia held a 16-14 advantage. Montana Tech made the Cougars work for it the entirety of the match, but Columbia was up for the challenge as they secured their 23rd sweep with a final score of 25-19.
Columbia was led by Kiersten Anderson who recorded 13 kills. In addition, Thais Andrade (15) and Manuela Vargas (10) each tallied double digit digs, while Vargas also had 33 assists in the third match of the weekend.
In the final match of the Fall Classic, Columbia took on the John Brown University (Ark.) Golden Eagles. The Cougars started the match off on a 5-0 run before the Golden Eagles were able to get on the board. John Brown was able to chip back in quickly, trailing 7-5. Columbia was able to space things out again taking a 13-7 lead as the Golden Eagles called a timeout. The Cougars found their groove as they went ahead 18-9. Columbia went on to take set one 25-12.
Once again, the Cougars took the early lead 5-1. Columbia extended their lead 11-4, while the Golden Eagles called time. Columbia rolled on to win set two by a score of 25-10, holding the 2-0 advantage.
The Cougars found themselves going back and forth with the Golden Eagles in the beginning of the third. John Brown took an 8-5 lead, but Columbia wasted no time tying the game at eight and then regaining the lead 11-9 as John Brown took a timeout. The Cougars stayed in the lead, but the Golden Eagles were right on their backs. The Golden Eagles cut the score 17-16, but Columbia was able to fend them off as they grabbed a 19-16 lead as another John Brown timeout took place. John Brown was not going down without a fight as they came back to take set three 26-24, forcing another set.
Heading into the fourth, the Cougars held a 2-1 advantage. After dropping one in the third, Columbia bounced back and took the 9-3 lead to start the fourth. The Golden Eagles continued to battle, but in the end the Cougars were able to snag the win 25-15 to go undefeated on the weekend.
Columbia was led by Caroline Clifford (16) and Barbara Sabino (11) who each had double digit kills. In addition, Thais Andrade (25) and Sidney Branson (13) each had double digit digs, while Manuela Vargas had 51 assists to end the weekend.
Following the conclusion of the 2018 Columbia College Fall Classic an All-Tournament Team was announced including Karina Mickelson (Montana Tech), Caterina Cigarini (MBU), Mallory Moran (MBU), Madison Mudd (Georgetown), Masha Korol (Montana Tech), Madison Rosenberger (Bethel), Madyson Beaver (Bethel), Caroline Clifford (CC), Manuela Vargas (CC), Barbara Sabino (CC), Nada Meawad (Park), Taylor Glover (JBU), Jane Kickham (CMU). For her efforts this weekend, Manuela Vargas (CC) was also named the MVP.
The volleyball team is back in action on Thursday, October 18th when they travel to Parkville, Missouri to battle the number one ranked Park University Pirates in an AMC contest. The match is set to start at 7 p.m.
